Telephone recorder-repeater system



Sept.` 7, 1943. l. L. LEsAvoY TELEPHONE RECORDER-REPEATER SYSTEM Filed March l5, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY` Sept 7, 1943 l. L LEsAvoY 2,328,562

TELEPHONE RECORDER-REPEATER SYSTEM Filed March l5, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 56 Jie/S mag/ref l lNVENTOR @fzfgmy ATTORNEY Sept 7, 1943 l. l.. Lx-:sAvoY 2,328,562

A TELEPHONE RECORDER-REPEATER SYSTEM Filed March 15, 1941 s ysheets-sheet s Recording 1 28 Am i/er' Op NVENTOR I l ATTORNEYlSl Patented Sept. 7, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TELEPHONE RECORDER-REPEATER SYSTEM Isadore Lawrence Lesavoy, Allentown, Pa. Application March 415, 1941, Serial No. 383,505

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a telephone recorderrepeater system wherein upon dialing a subscribers number, a caller will be automatically connected with mechanism which, at his will, can be caused to record a message or to repeat a message previously recorded. Thus, a subscriber can leave a message which will be repeated to a subsequent caller, or a caller can leave a message which the subscriber can subsequently obtain.

Briefly, the invention contemplates the equivalent of a standard central olce system with incoming trunks under the control of a central oflice operator. The nal connectors, however, instead of terminating in subscribers telephones, are capable each of being connected to a recording-repeating device which, under the control of a caller, can be made to record a message or repeat a. message previously recorded. The central oce system which, for present identification may be termed the message bureau or center, is under the control of an operator in order that revenue can be collected upon the basis of time consumed in recording a message or having the message repeated. Other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following de-` tailed description wherein Fig. l `is a diagrammatic illustration of the system as a whole; and

Figs. 2, 28L and 2b, when placed Fig. 2a at the right of Fig. 2 and Fig. 2b at the right of Fig. 2a, show the circuit details of the system.

In accordance with the invention, a subscriber to the system will have an identifying number Which can be published as are ordinary telephone numbers. Upon being connected with the message center, which is reached through incoming trunks I0, the caller will hear a dial tone whereupon he will dial the subscribers number. Through line nders II and selectors I2 (indicated by an appropriately labeled box in Fig. l),

one of a group of connectors I3 will be picked up,

i. e., the connector corresponding to the sub# scribers number which was dialed. The board allotted to the final connectors I3 may have, for example, ten thousand positions and each subscribers number can appear on several connectors to insure service even though one or more numbers in the same hundred block is in use.

Each connector cated to a given subscriber has a recorder selector I4 tied to it, the selectors in turn being connected to a series of recorders I5 which are multiplied across the selectors, the arrangement I3 or group of connectors "allo-l enabling a relatively few recorders to serve a large number of connector positions (Fig. l).

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be observed that each selector I2 has tip, ring and sleeve brushes I6, I1 and I8 movable to -dilerent connector positions I3. The tip and ring brushes I6 and I1 are in the voice circuit and, `when in service, will provide a through connection to the callers telephone. The sleeve brush I8 is connected to a battery I9 which, in turn, is grounded as at` 20. Each recorder selector I4 is provided with four contact brushes 2I, 22, 23 and 24`movable as a unit to one or another of a plurality of diiferent positions 25 at each of which there is connected a recorder mechanism I5. l

The recorder selector brushes 2`I and `22 are respectively in the tip and ring circuits and, as shown, are appropriately tied to the corresponding connector position I3. The brush 24 is connected to ground through a trip magnet 26 and a. battery 21, the function of the trip magnet being described later on.

The remaining recorder selector brush 23 is connected to the armature 28 of a slow release relay 29, energized from a battery 30 grounded `at 3|. `Also in the relay circuit, there is included a lead 32 and a pair of contacts 33 which, when closed, complete the relay circuit, one of the contacts being grounded at 34. Normally the slow release relay 29 is deenergized, its armature 28 engaging a back contact 35 grounded at 36. However, when the selector I2 reaches the connector position I3, dialed by the caller, its brush I3 establishes a circuit through a slow operating relay 31, thereby closing the contacts 33 and completing the circuit through the slow release relay 29. The slow operating relay 31 is energized from the battery I9 to which the selector brush I8 is connected, and its complete circuit includes a. lead 38 connected at one end to the relay winding and at its other end to the `recorder selector brush 23 when the recorder selector I4 is in its normal position. The circuit further includes a lead 39 connected `at one end to the brush 23 and at its other end to the slow release relay armature 28 which` as previously stated is normally grounded.

There is a, slow operating relay 31 at each connector position I3 and it is designed to remain inactive until it has been energized for a `period of l5 seconds. Thus, while each relay is momentarily energized during the sweep of the selector I2 to the dialed position, the relayV 31 at the dialed position only will operate as the selector comes to rest in that position.

In addition to completing a circuit through the slow release relay 2S, the closing of the contacts 33 also completes a circuit through a step magnet lli) whose winding is connected at one end to battery zii, grounded at 42 and, at the other end, to the magnets armature 43 which normally engages a contact M connected to the lead 32. As the step magnet iii is energized, the recorder selecto-r le is moved to the first recorder position and, should the recorder there be idle, the recorder selector will come to rest, tying that recorder to the connector position of the dialed subscriber. However, if the first recorder position is in use, it will be grounded and the step magnet will continue to receive impulses until the recorder selector does arrive at an idle recorder position.

All impulses imparted to the step magnet liti subsequent to the first, are delivered through a different circuit. When the slow release relay 29 is initially energized, the ground contact at is broken, thereby deenergizing the slow operating relay 5l and allowing the contacts 33 to open. However, when the armature 28 or" the slow release relay 25 is attracted thereby, it engages a top contact 45 so that the lead 39, which is connected to the recorder selector brush 23, will be in the circuit of both the slow release relay 25 and the step magnet 45. Because of its nature, the slow release relay will maintain the contact d5 closed despite the interruptions in current entailed by the stepping of the recorder selector from one position to another. And so long as the contact 45 does remain closed and the recorder selector encounters a grounded position, the step magnet will receive a new impulse each time its ar Aature 6.3 drops back to close the contact M Oi course, after the recorder selector has picked up an idle or ungrounded'recorder, no further impulses will be imparted to the step magnet and shortly thereafter the slow release relay 29 will release its armature 2S allowing it again to engage the hack contact 35 to ground that recorder position.

The recorder circuit includes two leads and 4l connected in the tip and ring circuits and over which the callers voice is transmitted to the recording apparatus and over which he hears the recorded messagel these leads are connected to the recorder, enabling them to perform their intended function, is described later on. Suflice it to say at the moment, as soon vas the recorder selector has picked up an idle recorder, central oiiice battery is supplied over the leads 45 and il to energize a slow release L13 and a pulsing relay 59, the windings of which connected in series (Fig. 2d). The relay l5 acts to close four pairs of contacts 55, 5 i, 512 and 53 'and remains active so long as the callers receiver is oit the hook. The contacts 55 are in a circuit which includes a step magnet 54 and which can be traced iro-ma ground 55, through a battery the contact 55, and through a lead 5l to the step magnet winding, and from the step magnet to a pair of contacts 58, one oi which is grounded at 59. The contacts 58 are opened as soon as the pulsing relay is energized by the centrai oriice battery.

The step `magnet 55 tor enabling the caller operates a function selecselectively to connect himself to the recording apparatus for recording or for receiving a recorded message. The function selector is so arranged that when the caller dials 1, he will be automatically connected for re- The manner in which cording a message, whereas when he dials 2, he will be automatically connected for receiving a message that has previously been recorded. To this end, the step magnet 54 has three positions, 60, 6I and 52, the position lili being normal. As l is dialed, the supply of central oiiice battery to the circuit through the slow release relay 48 and the pulsing relay 4S is momentarily suspended, permitting the contacts to close and establish the circuit through the step magnet 56. This momentary interruption of the current, however, has no ei'ect upon the slow release relay 43 which remains active. As the step magnet 54 is momentarily energized, an arm with which it is provided is stepped to the iirst position 6 i. On the other hand, when the caller dials 2, the step magnet, in like manner, receives two current irnpulses, causing the arm 65 to step to position G2. It should be stated that the pulsing relay Si is quick on maire and break so that as soon as the current through it is established aiter each dialing pulse, the contacts 5&3 are immediately broken.

Depending upon whether the arm has been stepped to the iirst position 5i or the second pof sition 52, current from a battery 5d, which is grounded at will ilo-w through the arm 63 to energize a relay 55 or El, the windings of which have a common return to ground at 55. The relays 55 and 5l are slow operating so that the one selected by dialing i is not operated by the rst oi the two impulses resulting from dialing 2.

As the relay 65 is energized, a pair oi vcontacts 65 and 'Eil operated thereby are closed, the contact 59 establishing a'circuit through la relay 'il which prepares the recorder i5 to receive a message. The circuit through the relay il can be traced from a ground l2. througha battery 'F3 to the relay winding, and thence by way or a lead le to the contact 55 and ground at i5. On the other hand, as the relay is energized, as when the caller dials 2, a pair of contacts l5 and 'Vl are closed thereby, the Contact l5 establishing a circuit through a relay l5 which prepares the recorder I5 to repeat a message previously recorded. The circuit through the relay i3 can be traced from a ground "i9, through a battery gli to the relay winding and thence, by way of a lead 8l to the contact l5 and ground at l5.

The other contacts l] and ll' closed by the selector relays and 5i', respectively, serve to energize a slow operating trip magnet 82 which, after said relays have performed their function, operates to restore the arm 53 ci the step magnet 54 to its initial position Gt. The circuit through the trip magnet can be traced from the ground 83 through the battery Sii to the trip magnet winding, then by way of a lead to the contact l5 or 1l', whichever is closed, and ground at 86.

The operation of the relay 'ii performs four different functions. First, it closes a contact 81 which establishes a locking circuit for maintaining said relay active until the caller either hangs up the telephone receiver or dials 2 to reproduce the message. The locking circuit can be traced from the winding oi the relay lli through the battery 13 and a lead 58 to the contact 81, and from that contact through a lead 89 to a contact 55, which is normally closed when the relay 'i8 is inoperative. Thereafter the circuit proceeds through a lead Si to the contacts 5l which, as will be recalled, were closed by the slow release relay i8 when the recorder was initially selected. The circuit returns from the contacts 5I back to the winding of the relay 'H through a lead 92. As stated, the circuit remains active until it is broken at the contacts 5|, when th caller hangs up, or at the contacts 90 should the caller dial 2;

Secondly, the relay 1| acts to connect the leads 46 and 41 of the voice circuit to the input of a recording amplifier 93 which ampliles the voice current preparatory to recording. This connectlni's established through a pair of contacts 94 and 95,\which are closed upon the operationof the` relay -1| and which connect the leads 46 and ",respectively to a pair of leads 96 and 91, the latter 'lniturn being connected to the input of the recording amplifiei-` 93 through a suitable filter network 98 (see also Fig. 2b); v ,A

` the output of the recording amplifier, there is" connected ay magnetic"l recording device 99 which is"v operatively associated 4Witha tape |00 of-acharactcr-capable of being magnetized inV accordance ;with `the Vvoice current.

in adirection to unwind thevtape oil' a druml |02 andi onto a drum |03,vthe drum |02, being driven `fromv the motor through a shaft '|04 and liifturn driving the drum |03 through a suitable |06; Since the tape |00 starts its forward movement simultaneously with the connection of the recorder with the callers telephone, the system will be in readiness to record the message. The motor |0| is controlled in its forward movement frorna `motor control box |06 designed to operatethe motor in a forward direction as a contact |01 operated by the relay 1| is closed. The motor forward control I circuit includes a pair of leads |08 and ,|09 emerging from the motor control box and which terminate at said contact |01.

Fourthly, the relay 1| opens anormally closed contact |`|0 which is in a locking circuit associated with the relay 1S and `which willbe described presently.

Vlriefly then,` when the caller dials l thecir-A is 'conditloned to record the callers message.

Should lie desire to have the message repeated back, that can b accomplished merely by diallng 2" without hanging up the receiver. Or, if a subsequent `caller should'desire to receive the message,`that may be accomplished by calling the message center and upon receiving thevdial tne', dialing the subscribers number and then dialing 2. In the latter instance, that is where a subsequent 'caller desires to receive the message, it will not be necessary for the recorder selector |4, allotted to the'subscribers connector, to hunt the recorder on which the message has been impressed since the recorderremains conncted tothe subscribers recorder selector for a. given period determined in a manner pointed out later on.

the number 2 is dialed eitherby the caller who wishes his message repeated back or` by la' subsequent caller` desiring to obtain the message, the relay 18 is energized by the function selector in the manner previously described. The relay 'i8 performs ve functions. First, it acts to close contacts to complete a locking circuit similar to that of the relay 1|. The circui@ hay betrace'd from the Winding 0f the relay llthroughthe battery 80, to the contacts then 4by way of a lead l2` tothe contacts ||0 which areunolmally closed when the relay 1| is deenergized. From the latter contacts, the circuit` follows a lead ||3 connected vthrough the contacts wana man H4 passing baci: to the relay ,wirxdir'igi If the condition is one where the` caller is having the message he gave repeated back, the contacts 52 will, ci course, have been 'closed by the operation of the slow release relay 48 at the time the recorder was initially connected to the recorder selector. In the case of a subse` quent caller, however, the contacts E52 will'be closed as soon as the callers line is coupled to the subscribers connector since at that time, the central oflice battery will be impressed upon the said relay 48. Secondly, the relay 18 connects the voice circuit, i. e., the leads 46 and 41, `to the output of a reproducing amplier H5 through a suitable vlter network |46 and a pair of leads H1, H8 terminating in contacts H9 and |20 which are 'closed when the relay is energized. The' input circuit of the amplier is connected flora mag# netic pickup device |2| operatively associated with `the tape |00 on which the message V'is recorded. rf"

Thirdly, the relay 18 initiates the motor |0| in the reverse tion so as to wind the tape |00 back upon the um |02 toits initial position in order that the lne. ge can be repeated from the beginning. The relay l0 kaccomplishcs ythis function by closing a pair of contacts |22 .f through an am o'nri te cil-V cuit in the r control motors field connections. connected to the motor cont a direct lead i213 and a `secol leed i272 vl cludcs a pai-r of contacts 5 the latter 4 normally closed so that when the contacts are closed by the motor will start il. -ediately to reverse.

The shaft |04 of the motor |0| is provided with a threaded sleeve |20 located initially atthe left end of the shalt but which is so guided that as the motor turns in a forward direction, the sleeve will move toward the right a distance pro# portional to the 'amount of tape unwound during the initial recording of the message. When the motor starts to reverse, the sleeve |26 moves toward the `left back along the shaft to its initial' the operation rof position at which time, all of the tape involved "in revous message recording will be wound up upon the drum |02. When the sleeve |26 reaches its normal position, it closes a pair of contacts |21 thereby completing a circuit from ground at |28 through the winding of a relay |29 to a battery |30 grounded at 3l. As the relay |29 is thus energized, `it opens the contacts |25 in the motor reversing circuit and simultaneously closesA two `other pairs of contacts |32 and |33. The contacts |32 establish the motor forward circuit while the contacts |33 establish a locking circuit for the relay |29. ThisJ locking circuit, in addiL tion to the battery |30, the relay winding and the contacts |33 just alluded to, includes also a pair of contacts |34, the closing of which is another function performed by the relay 18. The locking circuit maintains the relay |29 active,v` thus insuring that the motor will continue to move the tape forward until the caller has `heard the full message. The locking circuit is broken and the parts restored to their normal positions when the relay 13 is deenergized. That condition will occur when the caller hangs up or when he dials 1, should he also wish to have a message recorded. Should a caller dial 2 to `re ceive a message and then desire to have the `mes-5- position before the recorder starts to repeat the message a second time. It is suggested that the instructions for use provide that the caller dial 11 for recording and 12 for receiving the message, thereby eliminating any possibility of confusion.

From what has been said, it is apparent that the present system will enable a subscriber to call the message center and leave a message should he desire to absent himself from the place where he usually can be reached and will also enable another person to call the message center and receive the subscribers message. Furthermore, any person desiring to transmit a message to the subscriber can call the subscriber-s number and leave a message which he subsequentiy can obtain.

Also in accordance with the invention, it is proposed that the recorder remain tied to the subscribers line for a definite period of time after the connection therewith has been made. At the end of that period, the recorder is automatically disconnected from the subscribers connector and the message erased, thereby leaving the recorder idle and in condition to be connected to another subscribers line. For this purpose, there is provided a circuit which includes a clock mechanism |35 operated from a 6) cycle current source |38, the mechanism being designed to have a cyclic period of, say, twenty-four hours if that is the period decided upon to maintain the recorder connected to the subscriber-s line. When the recorder is initially connected at the subscribers position, the fourth pair of contacts 53 closed by the operation of the slow release relay 48 complete a circuit from ground at i3? through a. relay |38, a battery |39 and back to ground at |40. As the relay |38 is energised, it closes two pairs of contacts |4| and |42, which respectively establish a circuit starting the clock mechanism and a locking circuit for the relay |33, the latter circuit including the battery |38 and a pair oi contacts |44 which are normally closed. The clock motor |35 is provided with a cam shaft |555 upon which there are mounted three cams Uit, |41 and |48, and which is arranged to rotate once during each cyclic period.. As the cyclic period nears its end, the cam i'4i, which is suitably formed for the purpose, acts to separate the contacts |44, thereby breaking the locking circuit and deenergizing the relay Thereupon the contacts |4| and |422 are restored to their original open positions with the result that the circuit through the clock mechanism is broken.

Simultaneously, the cam lii acts to close a `pair of contacts |49 to establish a circuit through the trip magnet 26 associated with the recorderv selector. This circuit includes the brush 24 of the recorder selector and a lead |523 connecting the contacts |49, one of which is grounded to the recorder position at which the selector is located. As the magnet 26 is energized, the recorder se? lector will be restored to its normal position, thereby rendering the recorder idle.

Also at the end of the cyclic period, the cam |48 acts to close two pairs of contacts itil and |52. 'Ihe closing of the contacts |5i establishes a circuit through a battery |53 and a magnetic erasing device |54 associated with the recording tape |06 and whose function it is to erase the previously recorded message from the tape. The closing of the contacts |52 which are in a circuit leading to the motor control box, acts to reverse the motor ll to cause that portion of the tape upon which the message was recorded topass beneath the erasing device`g|54 andpermitthe latter `to perform its intended.function.v Suitable means (not shown) are provided to recycle the clock mechanism and place it in Condition to commence its timing action when'y the recorder is again selected. Y

There lis onel situation that might give trouble werecorrective measures not provided. Thus, in the absence of such measures, ifa person calling. to receive a message hung `up the receiver before the full message had lbeen repeated,the message of a person subsequently calling to record would overlap the unfinished portion of the original message. To obviatethat difficulty, there is provided a voice loperated relay |55 connected in the output circuit ofthe vreproducing ampliner H5 and which will act to maintain closed a pair of contacts |56 in the motor forward control circuit so long as there is any voice reproduction., Thus, even though the telephone receiverfis hung up before the message is completed, the tape will continue to move forward until all of the used portion has traveled past the pickup device, with the result that a fresh portion of the tape will be presented to the recording device SS should a person subsequently call to record a new message.

While no details of the motor control box have been shown, a suitable circuit capable of pertofore designated as the motor forward control` circuit and the motor reverse control circuit.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely by way of example and in preferred form, but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention'is not limited to any speciiic form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are speciiied in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: Y

l. In a telephone system for recording and repeating messages, the combination of a recording and repeating device, circuit connections under the control of a caller for selectively conditioning said device for recording a message or for repeating a recorded message, and means for automatically erasing the message at the expiration of a predetermined period.

2. In a telephone system for recording and repeating messages, a central oice provided with a plurality of positions individual to diiferent subscribers and connectible each to a recording and repeating device at said central cnice, trunk lines enabling a Caller to be selectively connected to any desired one of said positions, and means under the control of the caller and operable While he is connected to a recorder-repeater device for selectively conditioning said recorder-repeater device for recording a message or for repeating a recorded message as desired.

3. In a telephone system for recording and repeating messages, a central o-flice provided with a plurality of positions individual to different subscribers, trunk` lines enabling a caller to be selectively connected to any desired one of said positions, a plurality of recorder-repeater devices at said oiiice, a recorder-repeater selector associated with each of said positions and connectible to the recorder-repeater devices, said recorder-repeater selector acting automatically when a caller is connected at its position to select an idle recorder-repeater device, and means under the control of the caller for selectively conditioning said device for recording a message or for repeating a recorded message.

4. A telephone system according to claim 3, wherein means are provided for maintaining the selected recorder-repeater device locked to the subscribers position after the caller has been disconnected to enable a subsequent caller connected to said subscribers position to be connected to the same recorder-repeater device.

5. A telephone system according to claim 3, wherein means are provided for locking the selected recorder-repeater device to the subscribers position for a predetermined period.

6. A telephone system according to claim 3, wherein means are provided for locking the selected recorder-repeater device to the subscribers position, and means for automatically disconnecting the recorder-repeater device from said subscribers position at the expiration of a predetermined period.

7. A telephone system according to claim 3,

wherein means are provided for maintaining the selected recorder-repeater device locked to the subscribers position after the caller has been disconnected to enable a subsequent caller connected to said subscribers position to be connected to the same recorder-repeater device, and means expiration of a predetermined period to eiect the disconnection of the recorder-repeater device from said subscribers position and the erasure of messages that have been recorded.

9. A telephone system according to claim 3, wherein means are provided for locking the selected recorder-repeater device to the subscribers position, means for disconnecting said device from the subscribers position, means for erasing messages that have been recorded, and a timing control whose operation is initiated upon the connection of the recorder-repeater at the subscribers position and Which acts after a predetermined period automatically to operate said disconnecting means and said message erasing means.

10. In a telephone system for recording and repeating messages, a recorder-repeater device equipped with means enabling a caller using the system selectively to condition the device for recording or repeating messages, said device including an element on which the message is recorded and from which the message is repeated, means operable upon conditioning the device for recording to actuate said element in one direction, means operable upon conditioning the device for repeating to actuate said element in the reverse direction, and means acting upon the arrival of the element in its original position automatically to initiate its movement in the original directionY to enable the recorded message to be repeated.

11. A telephone system according to claim 10, wherein the recorder-repeater device is provided further with means to insure the continued movement of the recording element to the end of the recorded message in the event the caller discontinues his use of the device prior to the termination of said message.

I. LAWRENCE LESAVOY.` 

